The central bank of Russian increased its benchmark interest rates unexpectedly on Monday amid raising concerns over possible war conflict in neighboring Ukraine pushing the country's currency Ruble towards the historical low versus the U.S. Dollar. The Bank of Russia raised the rate by 150 basis points from 5.50% to 7.00%.
The Ukraine currency Hryvnia declined on Monday trading session falling towards the lowest level all-time after the Russian Federation intervened into Ukraine's Crimea peninsula raising concerns over possible war conflict as the Russian President Putin declares his troops had right to enter the country. The Hryvnia slipped from Friday's 10.8510 a U.S. Dollar to 11.6510.
Russian shares and government bonds declined on Monday trading session as the Russian central bank raised benchmark interest rates and supported the country's currency through $10 billion injection on geopolitical tension in neighboring Ukraine. The Russian stock index MICEX slipped 11.5% to 1,280 and the Rubble fell 2% to 36.49 a U.S. Dollar.
U.S. Dollar advanced on Monday trading session together with the Japanese Yen as investors seek for safe-haven assets after the Russian Federation entered Ukraine's Crimea peninsula raising political tension in the country. The so-called Greenback increased pushing the Dollar index 0.3% higher to 79.885, while the Yen added as much as 0.6% against the Euro to 139.67.
Wall Street edged lower on Monday trading session together with most risk assets world-wide after Russian intervened Ukraine raising concerns over possible war conflict as the President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin claimed the intervention was correct. The S&P 500 Index dropped 0.83% to 1,843.93, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.98% to 16,161.55 and the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped
Oil, gold and the Eurozone government debt increased on Monday after the Russia Federation army entered Ukraine raising concerns that political instability in Ukraine may last longer than expected forcing investors to seek for safe-have assets. Crude prices gained more than $2 per barrel, gold futures climbed 2% and the 18-nation bloc debt advanced.
Gold rose to the highest level in more than four months in London as worries of a military conflict between Ukraine and Russia increased demand for safe haven. The yellow metal for immediate delivery added 1.8% to $1,350.37 an ounce, the highest level since October 30, and traded at $1,345.92 as of 9:31 a.m. London time. Bullion for April delivery
Australian government bonds rose, setting benchmark interest rates to the lowest in a month, as standoff in Ukraine boosted demand for haven assets. GACGB10 government bond interest rate was at 3.98% at 4:55 p.m. in Sydney after it declined to 3.96%, the lowest level since Feb. 4. The interest rate on three years debt touched 2.76%, the lowest since September. The MSCI Asia
Russian stocks set for the biggest drop in five years as Vladimir Putin ordered to seize control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The INDEXF of equities dropped as much as 8.7% to 1,318.67 as of 11:02 a.m. in Moscow, almost the biggest drop since February 2009. OAO Aeroflot, Russian biggest airline, contacted 13%. OAO Gazprom, the gas-export monopoly, lost 12%, while
Price for copper retreated to the lowest level in three months after data showed slowdown in activity in the manufacturing sector of China, the biggest user in the world. Copper for three months delivery on the LME dropped 0.7% to $6,964.25 a metric ton, the lowest level since Dec. 4, and was little changed at $6,966.75 per one ton as of 11:05
Natural gas futures grew for a second day in New York as winter storm in the U.S. might increase demand for heating and Russia treated to invade Ukraine, its main conduit for gas supplies to Europe. Gas for April delivery advanced 2.8% to $4.736 per one mil of Btu on the NYMEX and was little changed as of $4.701 at 1:20 p.m.
U.K. currency gained versus the greenback as data indicated a growth of the British economy for the last quarter, boosting the demand for the Sterling. Britain's currency rose 0.8% last week to $1.6745 as of 4:56 p.m. London time on Friday after it touched $1.6769, the strongest since Feb. 17. The pound added 0.3% to 82.44 pence per 18-nation currency.
Japan's yen appreciated versus its 16 major counterparts as the President of Russia Vladimir Putin intensified the serious standoffs in Ukraine's Crimea region, sparking haven asset demand. Japanese currency advanced 0.4% to 101.42 per greenback at 12:43 p.m. in Tokyo, after it touched 101.26, the highest level since Feb. 6. It climbed 0.5% to 139.73 per 18-nation currency.
The yellow metal gained as Russia raised tensions in Ukraine and seized nation's Crimea region, boosting the allure of less risky assets. Gold for immediate delivery advanced 1.4% to $1,344.87 an ounce and was little changed at $1,342.50 as of 10:57 a.m. in Singapore. Bullion climbed 6.6% in the previous month after it gained 3.2% in January, reaching a high
It is projected that the Australian Dollar will end its biggest advance since September as the economy signals that the limited growth will decrease yields. Australia's currency advanced 2.4% this month, the largest gain among 10 major counterparts after Norway and New Zealand. The Aussie was little changed at 89.63 cents at 5:45 p.m. in Sydney, slipping from the level of 90.81 touched on Feb.
Retail sales in the Europe's largest economy increased in January rising at the fastest rate in a seven-year period reversing previous month's drop, a report published by the statistical office Destatis showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's retail sales increased by 2.5% in February, the strongest pace since 2007, while the figure was forecast to gain 1%.
Inflation measure as harmonized price index in Italy weakened in February, a preliminary figures revealed by the statistical office Istat showed on Friday. According to the report, the country's harmonized index of consumer prices fell from 0.6% recorded in January to a level of 0.5% in the following month, while experts projected inflation to stay flat.
German government bunds declined on Friday falling for the first time in four sessions after a report showed that consumer price inflation in the Eurozone bear initial economists' projections cooling down concerns that the ECB may lower rates. The benchmark 10-year bunds yielded five basis points higher at 1.61% as of 11:36 a.m. in London.
India's government bonds declined on Friday capping its worst performance in a month since November amid concerns that demand for the nation's securities may fall as the Reserve Bank of India raised its repurchase rate. India's benchmark 10-year yields climbed by nine basis points to 8.86% after the RBI increase the rates from 7.75% to 8%.
The European benchmark Brent crude slipped on Friday session with the WTI-Brent discount narrowing to $6.38 today from January's level of $8.91 after inventories in the U.S. shrank and as maintenance season may bring lower demand. Brent for delivery in April dropped as much as 34 cents to $108.62 per barrel on the London's ICE.
West Texas Intermediate oil declined on Friday falling for the second straight session and reducing its monthly gain on speculation that demand in the world's largest oil consumer, U.S., may slow down amid maintenance season. WTI for settlement in April slipped 53 cents to $101.87 per barrel on the NYMEX and was last seen at $102.21 by 1:23 p.m. in
Economic growth of the world's largest economy was downwardly revised from 3.2% showed in an original report to a level of 2.4% in the December quarter, the Commerce Department showed on Friday. The report also unveiled that the U.S. consumer spending advanced at a slower rate than initially estimated in the Q4.
Precious metals mostly gained on Friday trading session after a government report showed that the world's largest economy rose slower in the last quarter of 2013 and as China's currency weakened pushing demand from the region lower. Silver for settlement in May rose 0.2% to $21.31 an ounce, palladium surged 0.1% to $744.50 an ounce, while platinum fell 0.2% to
Gold traded in New York decreased on Friday session trimming its monthly increase as investors took profits after prices of the metal rose to the strongest level in seventeen weeks in speculation that weaker China's currency may ease demand from the region. Bullion for delivery in April fell 0.3% to $1,328.20 an ounce as of 7:32 a.m. on the Comex.